Let’s Grow Daffodils!The Why, What, and How of

Growing Daffodils

Copyright 2011 by the

All photos are copyright by Kirby Fongexcept where marked otherwise

Why grow Daffodils?

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They’re beautiful,

and DEER DON’T EAT THEM

Daffodil Naming

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Cultivars are cultivated varieties of daffodils and have (usually English) names; e.g. Ice Follies.

Species (i.e. wild) daffodils have only Latin botanical names; e.g. Narcissus triandrus.

Daffodil is the common English equivalent of the botanical genus Narcissus.

Both cultivars and species are of genus Narcissus.

Jonquil is used in some regions to mean the same as daffodil.

Two Major Parts of the Flower

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Petals or perianth segments, collectively called the perianth

Cup, trumpet, or corona

Color Coding

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A daffodil’s classification has

Division Number and Color Code.(to be explained)

1YYW-WWY

YYW = perianth colorsfrom the outside in

WWY = corona colorsfrom the base to the rim

Colors are represented by: W = White, Y = Yellow, P = Pink,R = Red, O = Orange, G = Green

Daffodil Divisions

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Daffodils are classified into 13 divisions.

Divisions 1 through 12 are for cultivars (cultivated varieties) and are based on the physical appearance of the flower. Cultivars always have common names – that is, names that are not scientific botanical names.

Division 13 is for wild or wild hybrid (species) daffodils having only (Latin) botanical names.

Definitions and examples of the divisions follow…

Division 1: Trumpet

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One flower to a stem; corona (trumpet) as long as, or longer than, the perianth segments (petals)

American Dream 1Y-P

Bravoure 1W-Y

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Denali 1W-W

Pink Silk 1W-P

Trumpet Warrior 1YYW-WWY

Tuscarora 1Y-Y

Division 2: Large Cups

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One flower to a stem; corona more than 1/3 but less than equal to the length of the perianth segments

Golden Aura 2Y-Y

Accent 2W-P

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Bailey 2O-O

Crown Gold 2W-O

Loch Lundie 2Y-O

Valley Glow 2Y-R

Division 3: Small Cups

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One flower to a stem; corona not more than 1/3 the length of the perianth segments

Barrett Browning 3WWY-O

New Penny 3Y-Y

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Badbury Rings 3Y-YYR

Carnearny 3W-Y

Fussy 3Y-R

Green Pearl 3W-GWW

Division 4: Double

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One or more flowers to a stem, with doubling of the perianth segments or the corona or both

Tahiti 4Y-O

Erlicheer 4W-Y

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Crackington 4Y-O

Southern Hospitality

4Y-R

Unique 4W-Y Poltreen

4W-P

Division 5: Triandrus

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Characteristics of Narcissus triandrus predominant: usually two or more pendent flowers to a stem; perianth segments reflexed

Dutch Lemon Drops 5W-Y

Thalia 5W-W

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Garden Chimes 5Y-Y

Sunday Chimes 5W-W

World Class 5Y-Y

Churchfield Bells 5Y-Y

Division 6: Cyclamineus

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Characteristics of Narcissus cyclamineus clearly evident: one flower to a stem; perianth segments significantly reflexed; flower at an acute angle to the stem, with a very short pedicel (neck)

Beryl 6W-YYORapture 6Y-Y

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Trena 6W-Y

Velocity 6Y-R

Lemon Silk 6YYW-W

Sugar Rose 6W-GWP

Division 7: Jonquilla and Apodanthus

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Characteristics of Sections Jonquilla or Apodanthus clearly evident: one to five flowers to a stem; perianth segments spreading or reflexed; flowers usually fragrant

Pipit 7YYW-W

Stratosphere 7Y-O Dainty Miss 7W-GWW

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Golden Echo 7W-Y

Kokopelli 7Y-Y

Beautiful Eyes 7W-O

Limequilla 7W-W

Division 8: Tazetta

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Characteristics of the Narcissus tazetta group predominant: usually three to twenty flowers to a stout stem; leaves broad; perianth segments spreading, not reflexed; flowers fragrant

Avalanche 8W-Y

Grand Primo 8W-Y

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Innisidgen 8Y-O

Golden Dawn 8Y-O

Martha Washington 8W-O

Matador 8Y-GOO

Division 9: Poeticus

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Characteristics of the Narcissus poeticus group predominant: usually one flower to a stem; perianth segments pure white; corona usually disc-shaped, with a green or yellow center and a red rim; flowers fragrant

Actaea 9W-YYR

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Dactyl 9W-GYR

Vienna Woods 9W-R

Chesterton 9W-GYR

Cantabile 9W-GYR

Division 10: Bulbocodium

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Characteristics of Section Bulboco- dium clearly evident; usually one flower to a stem; perianth segments insignificant compared with corona; filament and style are usually curved.

Kojak10Y-GYY

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Apollo Gold 10Y-Y Mitimoto 10W-Y

Division 11: Split Corona

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The corona is split – usually for more than half its length.

11a Collar Daffodils: Split-corona daffodils with the corona segments opposite the perianth segments; the corona segments usually in two whorls of three

11b Papillon Daffodils: Split-corona daffodils with the corona segments alternate to the perianth segments; the corona segments usually in a single whorl of six

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Jack Wood 11aY-YYO

Diversity 11aW-PPW

Jantje 11aY-O

Trump 11aW-Y

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Tripartite 11aY-Y Jodi’s Sister 11bW-P/W

Division 12: Other Cultivars

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This is a miscellaneous division for cultivars that do not fit any of the other eleven divisions.

Mesa Verde 12G-GGY

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Canyon Wren 12Y-O

Toto 12W-W

Tête-à-Tête 12Y-Y

Division 13: Botanical

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Division 13 is for daffodils distinguished solely by botanical name.

Narcissus rupicola 13 Narcissus obvallaris 13

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Narcissus cyclamineus 13

Narcissus triandrus ssp. pallidulus 13

Narcissus tazetta 13

Narcissus jonquilla 13

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Daffodil Bulbs

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The pointed end goes up!

Planting Daffodils

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When to Plant

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Growing Conditions

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1. Sun2. Good Drainage3. Don’t water in summer4. Neutral or slightly acid soil5. Low nitrogen, high potassium if you fertilize

After Bloom

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Don’t braid the foliage! For companion plants, typeas one line http://www.hort.cornell.edu/combos/FeaturedCombos/ OtherSuggestedCombos/All%20Narcissus%20Combos /NarcissusCombos.htm If online, click on http://www.hort.cornell.edu/combos/FeaturedCombos/OtherSuggestedCombos/All%20Narcissus%20Combos/NarcissusCombos.htm

Daffodils Indoors

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Produced by the American Daffodil Society

• Promote a wider interest in daffodils• Create more exhibits of daffodils through shows and public plantings• Set standards for daffodil shows and judges• Promote and encourage scientific research on the genus Narcissus• Serve gardeners’ needs to learn more about all aspects of growing daffodils

Visit the American Daffodil Society Web Site http://www.daffodilusa.org/

American Daffodil Society Webstore http://stores.daffodilusastore.org/StoreFront.bok

DaffSeek – Daffodil Photo Database http://www.daffseek.org/

Founded in 1954 to:

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The American Daffodil Society, Inc.Visit the American Daffodil Society website to join today,

http://www.DaffodilUSA.org.

The ADS was founded in 1954 to promote a wider interest in daffodils. The society and its members have set the standard

for daffodil shows and judging and continues to encourage scientific research on the genus Narcissus.

As a member, enjoy benefits such as quarterly issues of The Daffodil Journal,

an invitation to attend the Society’s annual national convention, and the

company of other daffodil enthusiasts!

Find us on:

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Where do Daffodils come from?

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Approximate areas where wild daffodils may be found. Little is known of their distribution in many countries and a long history of cultivation makes it difficult to know if some plants are genuinely wild or are garden escapes. (Courtesy of the Royal Horticultural Society)

Making New Daffodils

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filamentanther

stamen

stigmastyleovary

pistil

Other Daffodil Parts

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spathe

leaf

basal plate

bulb

leaf sheath

scape

perianth segmentmucrocorona, cup, or trumpet

Daffodils in Containers

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Daffodils don’t have to be planted in the ground.

Daffodil Shows

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Once you’re growing beautiful daffodils, give other people a chance to see them.

Judging Cultivars

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FormConditionSubstance & TextureColorPose & StemSize

Total

25 points20 points15 points15 points15 points10 points

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Fall-Blooming Daffodils

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Narcissus serotinus 13

Narcissus viridiflorus 13

Regional Differences

• West• East• North• South

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